Features-of-Language

单击此处编辑母版标题样式,单击此处编辑母版文本样式,第二级,第三级,第四级,第五级,*,Features of Language,Many philosophers and linguists believe that language is unique to man.Language is a human trait that sets us apart from other creatures.They spell out a number of features of language,which are not found in animal communication systems.,1.creativity(or productivity),2.duality(二重性),3.arbitrariness(任意性),4.Displacement移位性,5.Cultural transmission,6.Interchangeability(互换性),7.reflexivity(自反性或反身性),8.Adaptability(适应性),1.creativity(or productivity),Language is productive or creative in that it makes possible the construction and interpretation of new signals by its users,Creativity is the first and foremost striking feature of human language.,1)It is using existing language to form new words that are understood by other speakers of the language.,For example,compound word:,Redcoat,greenhouse,(2)Language speakers can form indefinitely long sentences.,Eg;This is the farmer sowing the corn,that tossed the dog,that worried the cat,that killed the rat,Creativity is a feature that distinguishes human language from communication system of other creatures.,2.duality(二重性),Language contains two subsystems,one of sounds and the other of meanings.,At the lower level,it is seen as a sequence 连续of segments局部 which lack any meaning in themselves.,For example,/k/,/a:/,/p/,/ka:p/-carp,/pa:k/-park,At the higher level of the system,language is analyzed in terms of combinations of meaningful units(such as morphemes词素，words).,For example:greenhouse=green+house,Duality makes it possible for a person to talk about anything within their knowledge.,3.arbitrariness(任意性),There is no logical connection between meanings and sounds.,(1)The forms of linguistic signs bear no natural relationship to their meaning.,.,(2)In different languages,different sounds are used to refer to the same object.,For example,房子：house(英语),casa西班牙语,Language is not entirely arbitrary;some words are motivated,i.e.,there seems to be some logical association between sounds and meaning.,(1)onomatopoeic 拟声的motivation,eg:hiss by snakes,(2)morphological形态的 motivation eg:Hopeless,.,(3)semantic语义的 motivation,eg:Mouth vs.the mouth of a river;,.(4)etymological语源的 motivation,eg:Laconic-“brief”or“short”;,It is derived from Lacons;who are famous for their“brevity of speech”,and for their habit of never using more words than necessary,4.Displacement移位性,Language can be used to refer to things real or imagined,past,present or future.,For example：honeybee蜜蜂,No animal communication system possesses this feature.,5.,Cultural transmission,Cultural transmission(also called“traditional transmission“).,Language is handed down from one generation to another.,1Humans language system not genetically transmitted but have to be taught and learned.,2Animal call systems genetically transmitted,6.Interchangeability(互换性),Interchangeability means that any human being can be both a producer and a receiver of messages.,For example,a person can be the speaker while the other person is the listener and as the turn moves on to the listener,he can be the speaker and the first speaker is to listen,7.reflexivity(自反性或反身性),Human language can be used to describe themselves.,Eg:when we teach language as a subject we also have to use it.,8.Adaptability(适应性),Adaptability is another assential feature of human language.It is an open system so that all social changes can be represented.,Thanks for your attention.,